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Mark Duper was a 5'9" wide receiver with the NCAA Division I-AA Northwestern State University Demons. Miami picked him up in the second round of the 1982 NFL Entry Draft, with the 52nd overall pick. He wore the number 85 jersey throughout his Dolphin's career.
In 1982, Duper had no impact on Miami's strike-shortened 7-2 record and subsequent AFC Championship. He only appeared in two games, never touching the ball.
Duper started 11 of 16 games for the 1983 Dolphins, making the Pro Bowl roster in the progress, one of seven Dolphins to make the cut. For the first time, he broke the 1,000-yard barrier, finishing with a team leading 1,003 yards on 51 catches, finishing sixth in the league with 10 touchdowns scored. His 19.7 yards per catch ranked him fifth in the NFL. He had three games during the season where he gained over 100 receiving yards, and on two occasions scored two touchdowns. This includes a week six loss to the Buffalo Bills, 38-35 where he caught seven passes for 202 yards and two scores. The Dolphins finished the season 12-4, making the playoffs. Duper caught nine passes for 117 yards and a score in Miami's 27-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the playoffs.
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In 1984, Duper was one of eight Dolphins to make the Pro Bowl, starting all 16 Miami games. He caught a career high 71 passes for 1,306 yards and eight touchdowns. He had four games in which he gained over 150 receiving yards, and twice scored two touchdowns. In Miami's 45-28 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship, he caught five passes for 148 yards and two scores. Miami's passing offense rewrote the NFL record book, helping Miami to an AFC best 14-2 record.
1985 would see Duper injured in the first week of the season, in a 26-23 loss to the Houston Oilers. In his week 10 return, he caught eight passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. In total, Duper was able to start eight of the nine Miami games in which he appeared. He still managed to catch 35 passes for 650 yards and three touchdowns as the Dolphins posted a 12-4 record, winning the AFC East title.
In 1986, Duper returned to the AFC Pro Bowl roster by catching 67 passes for NFL third bests 1,313 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, all totals pacing Miami. He was one of six Dolphins on the team. Miami posted an 8-8 record on the season, enjoying eight games in which Duper gained over 100-yards. In a week 15 37-31 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Duper caught five touchdowns for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
1987 would see Duper post career lows, in his 11 starts (over 12 non-replacement games), Duper gained a Dolphin second best 597 yards on 33 catches. He still managed to finish third in the NFL with eight touchdowns catches. Duper broke 100-yards three times, including six catches for 170 yards and three scores in a week 14 victory over the Washington Redskins, 23-21. Miami finished the season at 8-7, missing the playoffs.
In 1988, Miami faithful had to endure the Dolphins first losing record since 1976, at 6-10. Duper finished third on Miami with 39 catches for 626 yards and only one touchdown. He played in 13 games, including a week seven victory over the San Diego Chargers 31-28 where he scored his touchdown, along with 118 receiving yards on seven catches. Duper would miss 30 days when he violated the NFL's drug policy with an undisclosed offense (allegedly cocaine).
1989 would see Duper finish second on Miami with 717 receiving yards. He scored one touchdown on the campaign, catching 49 passes. Duper gained over 100-yards on two separate occasions on the season, as Miami finished with an 8-8 record, extending their playoff-less streak to four consecutive seasons.
Duper led Miami in 1990 with 52 catches for 810 yards and five touchdowns. Miami earned a wildcard position, posting an AFC second best 12-4 record. Duper caught at least one pass in every regular season game. His season's best game occured in week five, when he caught five passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, as Miami set down the New York Jets, 20-16. Duper was one of few bright spots for Miami in the second playoff contest a 44-34 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Playoff, catching three passes for 113 yards including a 64-yard touchdown catch.
In 1991, Duper posted over 1,000 yards for the fourth time. It was also the fifth straight campaign where Duper's yardage total was higher than the season prior. Both he and fellow Marks brother, Mark Clayton, broke the 1,000-yard barrier. Duper led the Dolphins with 1,085 yards on 70 pass receptions, scoring five touchdowns. Duper caught at least two passes in every game of the season, finishing the season with 327 yards on 22 catches with a score in the final three games. The Dolphins settled for an 8-8 record.
Duper led the Dolphins in 1992 with 762 receiving yards gained and seven touchdowns scored. He caught 44 passes on the season, as Miami returned to the playoffs by posting an AFC East best 11-5 record. After retiring following the season, he was soon after charged with charged with conspiracy and intent to distribute cocaine, a charge which he was officially acquitted of one year later. Later still, he would officially change his name to "Mark Super Duper."
In 11 seasons with the Dolphins, Duper leads Miami's all-time leaderboard with 8,869 yards gained, starting 136 of 146 games. He caught 511 passes, scoring 59 career touchdowns. Along with Mark Clayton, Duper was inducted into the Dolphins Honor Roll in 2003.
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